The development deepens the confrontation over the tanker formerly known as the Bella 1, which the United States wants to seize but which Russia has sought to protect.

The European Union is preparing new sanctions aimed at companies that helped Russian ships hide their identity using fake flags. These ships, known as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”, are believed to be moving oil and other goods secretly, avoiding ...

An expert in international maritime law spells out what the international law of the sea has to say on incidents of this sort.